OSU College of Business establishes Portland headquarters, launches innovation MBA

January 19, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon State University College of Business is launching a new MBA in innovation and establishing a Portland headquarters in the Pearl District.

The new space, located at 220 N.W. Eighth Ave., will be celebrated with several events, including informational meetings for the new MBA track in innovation as well as an upcoming open house for alumni, students, prospective students and industry representatives.

"It's an exciting time for us to grow in the Portland market," said Dean Mitzi Montoya, who joined OSU's College of Business in September.

OSU's hybrid MBA program, based in Portland, offers a mix of online and in-person work. The innovation MBA will focus on one of Portland's core values, entrepreneurial business growth, as it pertains to starting new businesses and advancing existing Oregon companies.

The MBA program in Portland also includes tracks in executive leadership and business analytics. Tracks in supply chain and logistics management and a certificate in financial planning will be offered beginning in the fall.

The flexible hybrid program format makes it accessible for the working professional. It involves working online about 80 percent of the time and gathering twice per 10-week term for team and faculty meetings, professional development, alumni networking and applied project work.

"OSU is an engine of innovation, and Portland is an exciting and growing innovation economy," Montoya said. "I am excited about the tremendous potential of our work to grow Portland's capacity to innovate even further."

The College of Business' new Portland headquarters will be located in the WeWork building in the Pearl District. WeWork is a national chain of shared office buildings and offers "co-working communities" that house multiple ventures, often startups. The businesses share office space, equipment and related amenities.

"WeWork's entrepreneurial environment and its mission, to support hard-working members who produce results, aligns with the culture of the College of Business, our alumni and our programs," Montoya said.

The open house will be held on Feb. 18 from 4-6 p.m. Alumni, industry representatives, current MBA students, prospective students and community members are invited to attend the free event, which will be hosted by Montoya and other college leaders.

Information sessions for the new MBA track in innovation will be held on Feb. 11 from noon to 1 p.m. and from 4-5 p.m. The track will be offered starting in fall 2016. Business professionals in the metro area are invited to attend. RSVPs are appreciated but not required and can be made at osumba@oregonstate.edu.

In addition to the new WeWork space, the College of Business will continue to offer courses at the Collaborative Life Sciences Building in Portland's South Waterfront district and expand its collaboration with OSU's Food Innovation Center in Northwest Portland.

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